Stretching apparatus



sq. as, 1926.

' imam: or msacnusarrs ,3 i m m present invention relates to devicesforuse in holding, stretching and drying skins and the furs offur-bearing ani- Innis, particularly smallfur-bearlng animals l ss apreliminary step in subsequent use and cam in the making of garments. iIn stretching devices of this general type, numerous attempts have beenmade to mode; wire or metal frame on WhlCll the skin couldbestretched,but such PIIOI' have been unsatisfactory in actual of thedifllculty in handling time requiredto apply, attach, hold the pelt,imiury resulting to the fvthe pelt, similar ob ect1ons, so V a: actualuse, it is'preferable to employ BBl'iBOf of boards, on which the peltsapplied, stretched and tacked in shape.

' present invntion'is directed tovobiflicultics of prior wire or metalappliances and to be as acceptapable in actual use to-the present noticeof using the boards,'while also elimthe danger and injury to the peltsentirely away with tacks or other meanswhith will in any way deteor'damage'the fur.

'We have combined a spring form of metal holder and stretcher, attachingand adjustable apparatus which enables" great D of operation, afiordsrigidity and umon the skins while drying, is I: eapableof'ia wide rangeof "ad ustability and "i preQcan ,handle' small andlarge S s the limitof its length, and permitsa of the res and novbe hereinafter pointedclaimed; y

Be drawings, illustrating a mtodimeatorem-iavenfien, is a plan viewefimproved illustrating a skin of subfly the largmt length and capacityfor apparatus is adapted;

* 2 is a "side view of the 'apparatus;

. Figgigl ls across-sectional view on the line g 1' tio nal view on theline isfan' enlarged side view of the adams-bar, a

STATES Bu OLOFBSON AND 3303 L; OLOFSSON, OI BOSTON, MASS- LSSIGIORS TOKAKAS BROS, 1:80., OE BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A

PATENT OFFICE.

STB-BTO'HING APPARATUS.

dated lay 20, 1924, Serial No. 544,853,1fled March 18, 1922. Applicationfor reissue filed February 24, 1925. Serial 10. 11,884.

In carrying out our invention any suitable length of metal and diameterof the same can be employed. Preferably we would provide a set of threeor possibly four frames of varying sizes to take care of the entirerange of skins and pelts for any particular work, each one of theseframes bein capable'in itself to handle, hold and stretch a considerablerange of pelts. We also prefer to use a round spring wire, forming thesame as illustrated in Fig. 1, with the sides 1 and 2 springing from theapex 3, and in a curved form with the shorter arm 2 formed with aneye-loop 4 and the longer arm 1 having its endmost portion benttransversely as shown at 5, passing through the loop 4 in the short arm2 and ending in a short upturned end 6 which acts as a stop and partlyas a handle. these sides 1 and 2 are'provided with a series of notchesas indicated at 10. 10; These notches may be formed in any suitablemanmin, but preferably are simply recesses filed or formed on the innersurfaces of the side arms 1 and 2, substantially as shown.

Applied to the sides 1 and 2 is a slidin cross-bar 12 having thereonmeans to hold and retain the tail portion of the pelt to eflect thelongitudinal stretching and also having means to lock the cross bar 12in adjusted position, both longitudinally and cross-wise with relationto the sides 1 and 2. For this purpose the cross-bar 12 has formedtherein slots 13 and 14 of substantial length and sufficient diametertdspan'the sidesl and 2, to slide freely thereover. In order to Theinner surfaces of I notches 20 of appropriate form and diameter to catchover the sides 1 and 2 and engage the notches 10, holding the sides 1and 2 both extended to the limit of the'stretching capacity of the pelt21 being applied, while also holding the same stretched longitudinally,as will be readily appreciated. These'locking levers are also fittedwith a small finger clip or catch 22 to facilitate releasing or raisingthe levers and remove the use of a board where tacks were employed thefur was injured but slightly, but in our invention we have devised anovel fastening mam which does not perforate the fur in any way whichwill. hold it securely, firmly v and rigidly, and enable the entire skinto be stretched longitudinally when applied to the frame. This fasteningdevice comprises a channel or U-shaped member adapted to tially enclosethe crossbar 12 when the astener 25 is moved downwardly into furengaging position, thus clamping the fur firmly and in an S-shaped patharound the of the cross-bar 12. This clamping member25 has a pair ofrearwardly extendilng h1gs26 and 27 pivoted to the crom-bar 12 at 28;and at the forward part is formed to receive a notched catch 30, asclearly shown in Fig. 3, a portion of the channel or arm of one sidebeing removed to constitute the cooperating catch engaging member 33.This catch 30 is preferably pivoted at to the cross-bar 112 as alsoclearly illustrated in Fi s. 3 and 5.

n the operation of our improved stretching frame, the operator holds thesame by the curved or bottom portions, viewing Fig. 1, fits the pelt 21over the apex 3 and pulls the pelt into approximate position, thereuponattaching the crow-bar to the tail 36 of the poll; 21, clamping the tailpiece firmly to the cross-bar by swinging the fastener 25- downwardlryand retaining the same in positiam by engaging the catch 30, so that theteetlrtherein will engage and hold the end portion 33 oi the fastener25f Thereupon 'thedperitor expands the sides 1 and 2 and simultaneouslymoves the cross-bar 12 rearwndly tomob: the pelt longitudinally,

and when in desired adjusted position, the

operator snaps downwardly the arms 18 and 19 which engage the sides 1and 2 in the adjacent notches 10, thus holding the pelt and frame inextreme stretched position to which the same has been adjusted, bothwidthwise and lengthwise. The peculiar configuration of the fastener 25cooperating with the-crossbar 12 giving a firm, rigid and yet non-mminggrip on the tail of the pelt while holding the some in stretchedposition and yet can be instantly released sitar the pelt is cured andit is desired to remove the same. Similarly the locking arms 18 and 19can be (prickly lifted by engagement with the finger clips 22 and thetension from the pelt instantly released both cross-wise andlongitudinally.

In using our im roved frame a pel t can be applied as quic ly as hasbeen possible on tapered boards, can be secured thereto much morerigidly, is useful in supplying a constant spring, tension capable ofcontraction with the drying of the pelt, and is'ca pablc also of a widerange of sizes. and furtheremore the entire frame can be cleaned,steamed, sterilized or the like without in.- jury, if desired. For thispurpose we desire to make the frame of non-corrosive spring metal of anysuitable composition, construction, strength and size. M .7

Our invention is further described and delined in the form of claims asfollows:

L A skin stretching frame of the kind. described, comprising movableside arms united at an apex, a. crossbar sliclable upon said side arms,and capable of being locked thereto, in combination with means on said;cross-bar to hold and secure a portion of a pelt applied to the frame,the means on the cross-bar to lock the same to said sidearms comprisinga pair of pivoted notched lockmg arms. 7

2. A skin stretching frame of the kind described, comprising side armsmovable toward and away from each other aboutone end portion, thereof,a, cross-bar assembled with said side arms for holding said'arms apartand being slidable relatively to said arms both longitudinally thereofand crosswise thereto, side arm engaging means assembled with saidcross-bar for locking said crossbar to said arms in adjusted position,and means on said cross-bar for securing a skin thereto.

3. A skin stretching frame of the kind described, comprising a rod bentto form a sub; stantial'ly V-shaped frame having side arms movabletoward and away from each other about the apex of said V, a cross barassembled with said side arms for holding said arms apart and beingslidable relatively to said arms both longitudinally thereof andcrosswise, thereto, side arm eng ng moans assembled with said cross-barlocking said cross-bar to said. arms in adjusted position, and means onsaid cross-bar ing a skin thereto.

4. A skin stretching frame of the kind described, comprising side armsmovable toward and away from each other about one end portion thereof, across-bar assembled with said side arms for holding said arms apart,said cross-bar being slidahly adjustfor securable relatively to bothsaid arms longtudinally thereof and slidahly adjustable crosswiserelatively to at least one arm, side arm engaging means assembled withsaid cross-bar for locking said cross-bar to said armsin ad'ustedposition, and means on said cross-bar or securing a skin thereto.

5. A skin stretching frame of the kind described, comprising a rod bentto form a substantially V-shaped frame having side movable toward andaway from each other about the a of said V, a cross-bar assembled withsai side arms for holding said arms apart, said cross-bar whileassembled with'sald side arms being adjustable both relatively to bothsaid arms longitudinally thereof and crosswise relatively to at leastone arm, side arm engaging means assembled with said cross-bar forlocking said crossbar to said arms in adjusted position, and means onsaid cross-barfor securing a 7 thereto.

6. A skin stretching frame of the kind described, comprising side armsmovable toward and away from each other about one end portion thereof, across-bar assembled with said side arms for holding said arms apart,said crossbar being slotted for permitting said arms to pass throughsaid bar and for permitting said bar while assembled with said side armsto be adjusted relatively to said arms both longitudinally thereof andcrosswise thereto, and side arm enmeans carried by said cross-bar foroc'g said bar to said arms in adjusted tion.

7. A. skin stretching frame of the kind described, comprising side armsmovable to "ward and away from each other, a cross-bar member assembledwith said side arms for holding said arms apart, said cross-bar memherbeing slotted for permitting said arms to pass therethrough and forpermitting said cross-bar member to be adjusted relatively to said sidearms both longitudinally thereof and crosswise thereto, means carried bysaid cross-bar member for looking it to said arms in adjusted positionscomprising a side arm ing member on said cross-bar member movfixlerelativel thereto and notches formed on said si e arm for engaging oneof said members.

8. A skin stretching frame of the kind described, comprising side armsmovable toto said arms both longitudinally thereof and crosswisethereto, means for locking said cross-bar to said arms in adjustedposition,

means on said cross-bar for securing a skin thereto, said meanscomprising a clamping member arranged lengthwise of said crossbar andmovably secured thereto, and means for detachably securing an endportion of said member to said cross-bar.

9. A skin stretching frame of the kind described, comprising side armsmovable toward and away from each other about one end portion thereof, across-bar for holding said arms apart and being slidable relatively tosaid arms both longitudinally thereof and crosswise thereto, means forlocking said cross-bar to said arms in adjusted position, means on saidcross-bar for securing a skin thereto, said means comprising a clampingmember arranged lengthwise of said crossbar and movably secured thereto,and means for detachably securing an end portion of said member to saidcross-bar comprising means including a series of notches for holdingsaid member in adjusted positions relatively to said cross-bar.

10. A skin stretching frame of the kind described, comprising side armsmovable toward and away from each other about one end portion thereof, across-bar for holding said arms apart and being slidable relatively tosaid arms both longitudinally thereof and crosswise thereto, means forlocking said cross-bar to said arms in adjusted position, means on saidcross-bar for securing a skin thereto, said means comprising a clampingmember arranged lengthwise of said crossbar, and means for'securing saidmember to said cross-bar in adjusted positions for clamping a skinbetween said bar and member.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification.

ERNEST V. SHALEN. KARL R. OLOFSSON. BROR L. OLOFSSON.

